Hammer action for firearms



2 Sheets-Sheet l T. M. BRAY, JR., ET AL HAMMER ACTION FOR FIREARMS I N V EN TORS Theodore M Bray, Jr.

RLC/Zdfd H.Wei'ChS e l Nov. 1, 1955 Original Filed May 16, 1950 Nov. 1, 1955 T. M. BRAY, JR., ETAL HAMMER ACTION FOR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed May 16, 1950 lv .2 a M; N muwm T M MBH Md C. @R Z Unite 1? States Patent HAMMER ACTION FOR FIREARMS Theodore M. Bray, Jr., and Richard H. Weichsel, Hudson, Ohio Original application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,212,

now Patent No. 2,685,143, dated August 3, 1954. Divided and this application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,328

2 Claims. (CI. 42-69) This invention application is a division of our prior application, Serial No. 162,212, filed May 16, 1950, Patent No. 2,685,143, dated August 3, 1954, and relates to firearms, more particularly to improvements in the hammer actions thereof.

According to prior practice, the spring-urged hammer of a piston or similar firearm has been held in cocked position by suitable cam arrangements so that when the trigger actuates a cam, the hammer will be released for its firing stroke.

The present invention involves a distinct departure from all prior practices, so far as is known, in the respect that the hammer is controlled by frictional engagement of a surface of the hammer with a brake element as the hammer moves to cocked position while the trigger releases the frictional engagement between the hammer and brake element on the firing stroke so as to permit the hammer to detonate a shell.

In its primary aspect, the present invention contemplates a hammer action including a brake drum or its equivalent adapted to be frictionally engaged by a brake band so that when the hammer is moved to cocked position, it will be frictionally held in a poised position, until a trigger releases the brake band.

An important object of the invention is to provide a silent, smooth acting hammer action having a minimum number of parts afiording silent and positive operation which is particularly advantageous in match play, thereby rendering the firearm particularly useful as a so-called free piston as that term is used in expert marksmanship matches in which no restriction is placed on the design of firearm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a target pistol which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through the same:

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a form of hammer action;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, parts omitted;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hammer action illustrated by Figure 2 and showing the other side thereof;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a hammer action embodying a modification of our invention;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 5.

2,722,074 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 In Figures 14, inclusive, we have shown a form of hammer action embodying the general principles of the 30, is rotatably mounted upon the pin 26 and provided in one side with a cylindrical recess or opening 61, forming an annular side wall or brake drum 62. A pair of opposed, substantially semi-circular brake shoes 63 and 64 are mounted within the recess 61 and pivotally connected at opposite ends, as shown at 65 and 66 with the closed side or bottom 67 of the plate 60. The inner, straight, parallel edges 68 of the brake shoes are spaced apart laterally, as shown, and provided centrally of the recess 61 with arcuate recesses or notches 69, for the reception of a rotatable, substantially oval shaped spreader cam 70. This cam 70 is also rotatably secured to the pivot pin 26, and carries a radial extension or arm 71, integral therewith, and projecting radially across the open side of the recess 61 and beyond the periphery of the disc or plate 60, as shown. At its free end, the arm 71 is equipped with a lateral extension or lug 72, integral therewith, and this lug extends adjacent to and spaced from the periphery of the plate 60 at the rear side thereof, Figure 1, for engagement with the upstanding extension 44 of the link or .lever 37. In this form of the invention, the pistol frame 22 is provided in the chamber 24 with a further annular recess 73, slidably receiving the arm 71 and adjacent end of the cam 70, so that these elements may rotate about the brake drum 62.

In operation, the hammer action of Figrues 1 to 4, inclusive, functions in substantially the same manner as the action of the form of the invention shown in our prior application. The brake spring 51 urges the rod section 47 against the shoulder 45 for forcing the extension 44 of the lever 37 against the lateral lug 72. This causes the arm 71 to turn for rotating the cam 70, and the cam in turn spreads the brake shoes 63 and 64 apart with their arcuate edges engaging the bore of the brake drum 62. This braking action frictionally holds the hammer 30 in the cocked position, in the same manner that the brake band 32 and asosciated elements holds the hammer cocked. When the trigger 41, Figure l, is pulled, the extension 44 is lowered a slight amount for disengaging the lug 72 and allowing the brake shoes 63 and 64 to move together and disengage the brake drum 62. The spring 57, Figure 1, now overcomes the friction between the brake shoes and drum, and shifts the hammer 30 to the firing position.

In Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, we have shown a further modified form of hammer action, wherein a thin, flat circular disc 74 is rotatable about the pivot pin 26, and carries the arm 29 and hammer 30, as shown. A pair of flat, circular brake discs 75 and 76 engage the opposite flat faces of the disc 74, and are held against rotation by means of transverse pins 77, which have their outer ends anchored in openings in the opposite sides of the frame 22. The brake disc 75 is provided in its outer face with a plurality of circumferentialy equidistantly spaced recesses having inclined bottoms or cam faces 78 for engagement with the inclined ends of short, lateral cam extensions or wedges 79, integrally secured to the inner side of a flat spider plate 80. This spider plate 80 includes circumferentially spaced, connected radial arms 81 and a rearwardly extending main longitudinal arm 82, integral therewith, the spider plate 80 being rotatably mounted upon the pivot pin 26 and held against axial movement away from the disc 75 by contact with the adjacent side of the frame 22. The disc 76 is likewise held against axial movement away from the disc 74 by contact with the other side of the pistol frame 22, Figure 7.

A strong retractile coil spring 83 has its upper end secured within an aperture 84 provided near the rear end of the main arm 82, and the lower end of the spring 83 is connected with an apertured lug 85, in turn rigidly secured to the butt end of the pistol grip 21.

The arrangement is such that the retractile spring 83 tends to turn the spider plate 80 clockwise, Figure 5, so that the wedges 79 co-act with the inclined faces 78 to force the disc 75 against the disc 74, which disc is frictionally held between the discs 75 and 76. The spring 83 thus takes the place of the compressible spring 51 of Figure 1, and serves the same purpose, namely, releasably holding the hammer 30 in the cocked position. A trigger 86 has its top end pivotally secured to the pin 42, and carries a longitudinally, rearwardly extending lever arm 87, integral therewith, which arm is curved upwardly, Figure 5, adjacent to the rear sides of the discs 74, 75 and 76, and close to the peripheries of the discs, and has its top end engaging the main arm 82, as at 88. When the trigger 86 is pulled, the lever arm 87 swings upwardly a slight amount for turning the spider plate 80 counterclockwise, Figure 5, so that the wedges 79 will release the adjacent brake disc 75 to enable the spring-urged rod section 53, Figure 5, to overcome the friction holding the central disc 74. When the disc 74 is thus released by pulling the trigger 86, the rod section 53 urges the hammer 30 forwardly to the firing position. When the hammer is pulled back to the cocked position, it will remain in such position due to the force exerted by the spring 83 upon the spider plate 80, as previously stated.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in material, shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

We claim:

1. A hammer action for firearms, comprising, a frame, an annular brake drum pivotally mounted upon the frame, hammer means secured to the brake drum for movement therewith to cocked and firing positions, opposed brake shoes arranged adjacent to the drum and pivotally connected with the frame and engageable with the drum, a spreader cam arranged between the brake shoes and pivotally connected with the support and engaging the brake shoes for spreading them apart, resilient means connected with the spreader cam for turning it in a direction to spread the brake shoes, separate resilient means connected with the hammer means for urging the hammer means toward the firing position, and trigger means connected with the first-named resilient means and operable for freeing the spreader cam to permit the brake shoes to disengage the brake drum.

2. In a firearm, a support, a substantially flat brake disc pivotally mounted upon the support and including a hammer extension shiftable with the brake disc to cocked and firing positions, spring means connected with the brake disc for urging the hammer extension toward the firing position, a second substantialy flat brake disc frictionally engaging the first-named brake disc and provided on one side with circumferentially spaced inclined cam faces, a spider pivotally connected with the support adjacent to the second brake disc and having wedge parts contacting the inclined cam faces, spring means connected with the spider for turning it in a direction forcing the second brake disc against the first-named brake disc, and a trigger pivotally connected with the support and engaging the spider for turning it in the other direction to permit separation of the first-named and second brake discs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,143 Bray et al. Aug. 3, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 

